Human Rights Coordinator

Human Rights Office

PASS Grade 3 (under review) $63,986 to $72,018

About the Board

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to learning, equity, engagement and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future, and our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy to guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique identities and needs of all. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 80 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.

Staff Wellness

At HWDSB, staff wellness is a priority. We are committed to co-creating and fostering an environment where staff feel safe, valued, and supported. We are continuously striving to support the needs of our diverse community and actively work to foster and maintain a culture of human rights.

Our holistic Staff Wellness program has been designed to support employee’s well-being in all dimensions of health. As one part of this comprehensive program, all staff as well as their dependents have access to free and confidential supports through our Employee and Family Assistance Provider (EFAP), in addition to many other program components.

About the Role

Reporting to the Human Rights and Equity Advisor, the Human Rights Coordinator assists the Human Rights Office (HRO) in program coordination that supports the internal Human Rights Complaints Resolution process and other human rights and equity initiatives, including human rights education and outreach. The Human Rights Coordinator is responsible for conducting confidential intake, preliminary triage of complaints and inquires, providing appropriate referrals, providing support in case management to investigators, handling both internal and public human rights related inquiries, and providing case law research support to the Human Rights and Equity Advisor and other HRO staff.

**Duties include but are not limited to**:
Conduct preliminary triage of complaints and inquiries using the HRO’s case management system, including responding to inquiries, providing appropriate referrals, determining next steps and facilitating ongoing communications with involved parties, investigators and others.

Conduct confidential, trauma-informed intake meetings and correspondence for complaints and inquiries under the Human Rights Policy, Human Rights Complaints Resolution Procedure, and other related policies and procedure.

Maintain an effective case management system including tracking intakes and investigations to ensure they meet established timelines, compiling confidential investigation documents, monitoring timelines and creating and updating templates and reports.

Support the assigned investigator (internal or external) by maintaining calendars, scheduling interviews and meetings, assisting in preparing confidential reports and agendas and tracking follow ups related to investigations and resolution follow-ups and restoration activities.

Support the HRO in developing and disseminating human rights materials and resources, in coordinating assigned projects to support the HRO’s education and outreach programs and collaboration with other departments, manage sensitive and confidential documentations, conducting case law and other information gathering and research to support the HRO’s both human rights inquiries to identify systemic issues and other complaints-based investigations and early resolution processes.

**Qualifications**:
Post-secondary degree or diploma in Human Rights, Social Justice, Social Sciences, Law (Law Clerk or Paralegal), Business Administration, Human Resources, Conflict Management or related discipline.

Minimum four years program coordinator and administrative experience or an equivalent combination of education and related professional and lived community experience, preferably in areas of human rights, equity, policy development and research, conflict management, resolution and customer service.

Strong understanding of human rights barriers and systemic inequities and the needs and rights of communities facing discrimination, preferably in the K-12 education context and workplace context.

Strong understanding of HWDSB’s Human Rights Policy, Human Rights Complaints Resolution Procedure and other equity related policies and procedures.

Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills including one-to-one support, teamwork, and presentations appropriate to various contexts, including cross-cultural and interdisciplinary communications.

Proven acumen and good decision-making responding to sensitive and urgent situations, maintaining privacy and confidentiality and ability to be compassionate, e